[Script Info]
Title: 
[Events]
Format: Layer, Start, End, Style, Name, MarginL, MarginR, MarginV, Effect, Text
Dialogue: 0,0:00:08.75,0:00:13.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,There's a job out there with a great\Ndeal of power, pay, prestige,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:13.44,0:00:16.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and near-perfect job security.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:16.24,0:00:18.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And there's only one way to be hired -
Dialogue: 0,0:00:18.48,0:00:21.87,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,get appointed to the US Supreme Court.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:21.87,0:00:24.49,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,If you want to become \Na Justice on the Supreme Court,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:24.49,0:00:27.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the highest federal court \Nin the United States,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:27.20,0:00:29.33,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,three things have to happen.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:29.33,0:00:32.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You have to be nominated by\Nthe President of the United States,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:32.40,0:00:35.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,your nomination needs to be\Napproved by the Senate,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:35.46,0:00:39.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and finally, the President must\Nformally appoint you to the court.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:39.94,0:00:43.55,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Because the Constitution doesn't specify\Nany qualifications,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:43.55,0:00:47.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in other words, that there's no age,\Neducation, profession,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:47.02,0:00:50.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,or even native-born \Ncitizenship requirement,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:50.22,0:00:54.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,a President can nominate any individual\Nto serve.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:54.14,0:00:57.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So far, six Justices \Nhave been foreign-born,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:57.30,0:00:59.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,at least one never graduated\Nfrom high school,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:59.86,0:01:04.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and another was one 32 years old\Nwhen he joined the bench.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:04.38,0:01:09.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Most presidents nominate individuals\Nwho broadly share their ideological view,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:09.82,0:01:11.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,so a president with a liberal ideology
Dialogue: 0,0:01:11.78,0:01:14.49,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,will tend to appoint \Nliberals to the court.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:14.49,0:01:18.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Of course, a Justice's leanings\Nare not always so predictable.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:18.38,0:01:21.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,For example, when President Eisenhower,\Na Republican,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:21.40,0:01:24.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,nominated Earl Warren for Chief Justice,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:24.28,0:01:27.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Eisenhower expected him\Nto make conservative decisions.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:27.62,0:01:31.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Instead, Warren's judgements have gone\Ndown as some of the most liberal
Dialogue: 0,0:01:31.34,0:01:32.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in the Court's history.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:32.98,0:01:35.11,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Eisenhower later remarked on that\Nappointment
Dialogue: 0,0:01:35.11,0:01:39.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,as "the biggest damned-fool mistake" \Nhe ever made.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:39.26,0:01:42.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Many other factors come up\Nfor consideration, as well,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:42.20,0:01:47.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,including experience, personal loyalties,\Nethnicity, and gender.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:47.16,0:01:49.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The candidates are then thoroughly vetted
Dialogue: 0,0:01:49.24,0:01:53.13,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,down to their tax records\Nand payments to domestic help.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:53.13,0:01:55.19,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Once the president interviews \Nthe candidate
Dialogue: 0,0:01:55.19,0:01:57.41,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and makes a formal nomination\Nannouncement,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:57.41,0:02:01.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the Senate leadership traditionally\Nturns the nomination over to hearings
Dialogue: 0,0:02:01.42,0:02:04.11,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,by the Senate Judiciary Committee.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:04.11,0:02:06.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Depending on the contentiousness\Nof the choice,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:06.32,0:02:08.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that can stretch over many days.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:08.77,0:02:13.13,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Since the Nixon administration,\Nthese hearings have averaged 60 days.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:13.13,0:02:16.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The nominee is interviewed \Nabout their law record, if applicable,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:16.80,0:02:21.25,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and where they stand on key issues\Nto discern how they might vote.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:21.25,0:02:23.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And especially in more recent history,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:23.72,0:02:28.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the committee tries to unearth\Nany dark secrets or past indiscretions.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:28.66,0:02:32.63,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The Judiciary Committee votes to send\Nthe nomination to the full Senate
Dialogue: 0,0:02:32.63,0:02:35.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,with a positive \Nor negative recommendation,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:35.52,0:02:40.65,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,often reflective of political leanings,\Nor no recommendation at all.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:40.65,0:02:43.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Most rejections have happened\Nwhen the Senate majority
Dialogue: 0,0:02:43.36,0:02:47.15,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,has been a different political \Nparty than the president.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:47.15,0:02:50.03,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,When the Senate does approve,\Nit's by a simple majority vote,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:50.03,0:02:53.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,with ties broken by the vice president.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:53.30,0:02:54.55,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,With the Senate's consent,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:54.55,0:02:57.03,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the president issues \Na written appointment,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:57.03,0:02:59.57,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,allowing the nominee to complete\Nthe final steps
Dialogue: 0,0:02:59.57,0:03:02.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to take the constitutional \Nand judicial oaths.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:02.96,0:03:03.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In doing so,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:03.96,0:03:08.03,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,they solemnly swear to administer \Njustice without respect to persons
Dialogue: 0,0:03:08.03,0:03:10.67,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and do equal right to the poor\Nand the rich
Dialogue: 0,0:03:10.67,0:03:15.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and faithfully and impartially discharge\Nand perform all the duties encumbent
Dialogue: 0,0:03:15.92,0:03:19.11,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,upon a US Supreme Court Justice.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:19.11,0:03:20.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This job is for life,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:20.77,0:03:25.37,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,barring resignation, retirement,\Nor removal from the court by impeachment.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:25.37,0:03:28.71,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And of the 112 Justices who have held\Nthe position,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:28.71,0:03:33.87,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,not one has yet been removed from\Noffice as a result of an impeachment.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:33.87,0:03:37.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,One of their roles is to protect\Nthe fundamental rights of all Americans,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:37.96,0:03:40.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,even has different parties take power.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:40.30,0:03:43.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,With the tremendous impact\Nof this responsibility,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:43.40,0:03:47.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it's no wonder that a US Supreme \NCourt Justice is expected to be,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:47.40,0:03:49.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in the words of Irving R. Kaufman,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:49.42,0:03:51.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"a paragon of virtue,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:51.34,0:03:53.00,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,an intellectual Titan,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:53.00,0:03:56.19,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and an administrative wizard."
Dialogue: 0,0:03:56.19,0:04:00.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Of course, not every member of the Court\Nturns out to be an exemplar of justice.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:00.56,0:04:03.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Each leaves behind a legacy\Nof decisions and opinions
Dialogue: 0,0:04:03.74,0:04:07.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to be debated and dissected\Nby the ultimate judges,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:07.20,0:04:09.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,time and history.